Polishing body and device for removing stain

ABSTRACT

A polishing body for removing stains is provided. The polishing body includes a fiber material or a fabric and a concave is formed in the polishing body to achieve the effects of slowly releasing polishing agent and effort-saving.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the priority benefit of Taiwan application serial no. 97148266, filed on Dec. 11, 2008. The entirety of the above-mentioned patent application is hereby incorporated by reference herein and made a part of specification.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a polishing body and a stain removing device using the polishing body and more particularly, to a polishing body is capable of increasing polishing efficiency and a stain removing device using the polishing body.

2. Description of Related Art

Various public transportation vehicles such as the subway and the bus use materials like glass, stainless steel, fiberglass reinforced plastic (FRP), or aluminum alloy for the vehicle body. In order to get more natural light into the vehicle, plenty of glass is used on the vehicle body. In general, the glass is mostly sodium silicate glass, which generates alkaline etchant in the glass through the exchange effect between hydroxyl of the water and the sodium ions of the sodium silicate glass. The alkaline etchant erodes the inner layer of the glass. After a period of time, the eroded inner layer of the glass expands and appears to be foggy from the outside of the glass, which is the so called “stains”.

Methods for removing the stains include, for example, fire restoration (melting surface of the glass with a high temperature torch gun), grinding (polishing surface of the glass with a diamond grindstone), etching (etching surface of the glass with diluted hydrofluoric acid), or lapping (polishing and trimming surface of the glass with abrasive polishing particles). However, evaluating the aforementioned methods and considering the on-site cleaning of the bodies of public transportation vehicles, removing stains on the glass by lapping is the most feasible method.

In the lapping method, in order for the abrasive particles to be able to polish and trim the surface of the glass to remove stains, polishing agent with polishing particles is generally applied on the surface of the glass and a polishing head rotates and moves on the surface of the glass so that the polishing particles can polish the surface of the glass. However, the conventional polishing head is of a flat structure so the polishing agent has to be jet coated onto the surface of the glass. The polishing agent, if placed on the polishing head, can not effectively adhere thereto because of the centrifugal force caused by the rotation of the polishing head, resulting in loss of the polishing agent. In addition, the conventional polishing head of the flat structure increases operation resistance on a horizontal surface and thus decreases polishing force. Therefore, the conventional polishing head has a problem of poor polishing efficiency.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a polishing body and a stain removing device using the polishing body which is capable of increasing stain polishing efficiency.

The present invention provides a polishing body suitable for removing stains on a base material. The polishing body has a concave.

The present invention provides a stain removing device including a driving mechanism, a base, a polishing head, and a handle portion. The base is connected to the driving mechanism, wherein the base rotates as driven by the driving mechanism. The polishing head is connected to the base and the handle portion is connected to the driving mechanism. The polishing head at least includes a polishing body and the polishing body has a concave.

The present invention further provides another stain removing device including at least two or more driving mechanisms, at least two or more bases, a plurality of polishing heads, a common connecting portion, and a handle portion. The bases are respectively connected to the driving mechanisms, wherein the bases are respectively driven by the driving mechanisms to rotate. The polishing heads are respectively connected to the bases. The common connecting portion combines the driving mechanisms together as a whole. The handle portion is connected to the common connecting portion. The polishing heads at least respectively include a polishing body and the polishing body has a concave.

In the present invention, through the concave formed in the polishing body, trimming and polishing force is increased and operation resistance in both the horizontal and vertical directions is decreased. In addition, although a contact area between a polishing surface of the polishing body and the base material is smaller, a more effective polishing surface is used for the polishing operation and thus the polishing efficiency is raised.

Furthermore, fiber or fabric material is used for the polishing body of the present invention. Therefore, not only can the concave be used to hold the polishing agent during the polishing process but the fiber at protruding portions outside the concave can be used to wrap around the polishing particles in the polishing agent. As such, the formation of the concave and the entwining effect of the fiber on the polishing particles in the polishing agent achieve slow release of the polishing agent and thereby increase the number of polishing particles on the effective polishing surface to better enable the polishing effect of the polishing particles in the polishing agent.

In order to make the aforementioned and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention more comprehensible, several embodiments accompanied with figures are described in detail below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1A is a schematic top view illustrating a polishing body according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1B is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along the line section I-I′ in FIG. 1A.

FIG. 2 is an OM diagram illustrating a distribution of polishing particles on the polishing body taken from particular positions with an optical microscope after the polishing body performs a polishing operation, wherein FIG. 2A is an OM diagram taken from the center, FIG. 2B is an OM diagram taken from a position between ½R˜⅔R, and FIG. 2C is an OM diagram taken from a position between ⅘R˜R.

FIG. 3 is an OM diagram illustrating a distribution of polishing particles on the polishing body taken from particular positions with an optical microscope after the polishing body performs a polishing operation, wherein FIG. 3A is an OM diagram taken from the center, FIG. 3B is an OM diagram taken from a position between ½R˜⅔R, and FIG. 3C is an OM diagram taken from a position between ⅘R˜R.

FIG. 4 illustrates a side view of the stain removing device of the polishing body of the present invention.

FIG. 5A illustrates a top view of a splash preventing element disposed around a polishing head.

FIG. 5B is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along the line section II-II′ in FIG. 5A.

FIG. 6A illustrates a top view of a stain removing device with multiple polishing heads according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6B illustrates a side view of the stain removing device with multiple polishing heads in FIG. 6A.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 1. Polishing Body

FIG. 1A is a schematic top view illustrating a polishing body according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1B is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along the line section I-I′ in FIG. 1A.

Referring to FIG. 1A, a polishing body 110 has a concave 120. It should be noted that the polishing body 110 and the concave 120 are not limited to any particular shape as long as a concave is formed in the polishing body. Thus, the polishing body and the concave disposed therein may be any suitable shape. As in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1A, the polishing body 110 suitable for polishing stains is of a circular structure, for example. A polishing surface 130 higher than the concave 120 is annular. In other words, from a top view, the polishing body 110, the concave 120, and the polishing surface 130 together form a concentric circle structure.

Referring to both FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B again, on a radial cross-section of the polishing body 110, when a radius of the concave 120 is r and a radius of the polishing body 110 is R, the radius r of the concave 120 is 1/10R˜⅘R, for example, and is preferably ⅕R˜⅘R. On the other hand, when a depth of the concave 120 is h and a thickness of the polishing body 110 is H, the depth h of the concave 120 is 1/10H˜ 9/10H, for example.

Furthermore, in order for the polishing body 110 to best wrap around the polishing particles, a material of the polishing body 110 is preferably fiber or fabric. Suitable fiber for use includes, for example, animal fiber, synthetic fiber, plant fiber, or a combination thereof. In addition, a diameter of the fiber is, for example, 0.01 mm˜0.5 mm and preferably 0.01 mm˜0.05 mm. A length of the fiber is, for example, 5 mm˜250 mm and preferably 15 mm˜25 mm.

A formation method of the polishing body 110 of the present invention includes, for example, removing part of the material of the polishing body from the center of the polishing surface of a main body (not shown) with the conditions of the radius r and the depth h so as to form the polishing body 110 having the circular concave 120 and the circular annular polishing surface 130. The material of the polishing body of the present invention is mainly fiber or fabric. Therefore, the abovementioned method for removing material of the polishing body includes suitable cutting or trimming, for example.

Moreover, a number of concaves in the polishing body is not particularly limited as long as the number of concaves reaches a balance in the polishing rotation. Positions of the concaves fall in a range of 1/10R˜⅘R, and preferably ⅕R˜⅘R.

Although a bottom surface 122 of the concave 120 in FIG. 1B is flat and a side surface 124 of the concave 120 is perpendicular to the bottom surface, the present invention is not limited thereto. The bottom surface 122 may be designed to be a curved surface or an inclined surface symmetric to a center according to actual requirement. The side surfaced 124 may also be designed to be a non-vertical inclined surface.

It should be noted that a central portion of the polishing body 110 of the present invention which easily causes horizontal operational resistance has been removed by forming the concave 120. Therefore, a contact area between the polishing surface 130 of the polishing body 110 and the base material is smaller. In addition, a more effective polishing surface 130 is used for the polishing operation and thus the polishing operation is less effort-consuming.

Furthermore, because the polishing body 110 of the present invention uses a soft material such as fiber or fabric and the central portion easily causing loss of polishing agent is removed by forming the concave 120, not only can the polishing agent be held in the concave during the polishing process but fiber on protrusions outside the concave 120 can be used to wrap around the polishing particles in the polishing agent. The present invention, as compared to the situation in the conventional technology where polishing agent quickly spins off, can achieve a slow release of the polishing agent by forming the concave 120 and thereby increase polishing efficiency.

To prove the entwining effect on the polishing particles of the polishing body of the present invention, polishing operations are performed using the polishing body with a concave of the present invention and a conventional polishing body at same rotation speed as well as cutting and trimming conditions. Photographs are taken respectively on the polishing body of the present invention and the conventional polishing body using an optical microscope, OLYPUS BX51.

FIG. 2 is an OM diagram illustrating a distribution of polishing particles on the polishing body taken from particular positions with an optical microscope after the polishing body performs a polishing operation, wherein FIG. 2A is an OM diagram taken from the center, FIG. 2B is an OM diagram taken from a position between ½R˜⅔R, and FIG. 3C is an OM diagram taken from a position between ⅘R˜R, with a zoom-in rate of the optical microscope being 50×. From FIG. 2, polishing particles remain at the center of the polishing body of the present invention after the polishing operation. More polishing particles remain at a position between ½R˜⅔R and even more polishing particles remain at a position between ⅘R˜R. It is clear from the above that although the polishing particles do spin off due to the centrifugal force, in the concave polishing body of the present invention, more polishing particles in the polishing agent hold onto the fiber that is not removed, resulting in better polishing effect and achieving the objective.

FIG. 3 is an OM diagram illustrating a distribution of polishing particles on the polishing body taken from particular positions with an optical microscope after the polishing body performs a polishing operation, wherein FIG. 3A is an OM diagram taken from the center, FIG. 3B is an OM diagram taken from a position between ½R˜⅔R, and FIG. 3C is an OM diagram taken from a position between ⅘R˜R. From FIG. 3, only some of polishing particles hold onto the fiber. That is, before the polishing particles are able to function, most of the polishing particles have spun outside of the polishing body due to the centrifugal force. Thus, the polishing particles are not optimally utilized, resulting in low polishing effect.

2. Stain Removing Device

FIG. 4 illustrates a side view of the stain removing device of the polishing body of the present invention. The stain removing device of the present invention is suitable for removing stains on a plurality of base materials such as glass, steel, plastic, etc. Referring to FIG. 4, a stain removing device 200 of the present invention includes at least a driving mechanism 210, a base 220, a handle portion 230 and a polishing head including a polishing body 110 and a gasket (not shown). Composition of the polishing body 110 has been illustrated in the above sections and will not be described again herein. The gasket is used to connect the polishing body 110 and the base 220. The base 220 is connected to the driving mechanism 210 and rotates through driving force provided by the driving mechanism 210. The handle portion 230 is disposed on the stain removing device 200 to allow the user to hold the stain removing device 200 and perform a polishing operation. In the present embodiment, the handle portion 230 is fixed on a housing of the driving mechanism 210, for example. The polishing head is fixed on the base 220 and can rotate with the base 220. Accordingly, through the above composition, the polishing head of the stain removing device of the present invention can rotate as driven by the driving mechanism 210 in order to perform the polishing operation on the glass to remove stains.

In the above composition, the polishing head includes the polishing body 110 and the gasket, which the present invention is not limited thereto. On the condition that the polishing body 110 can be fixed on the base 220, the polishing body 110 by itself may be used as the polishing head and the gasket is not required.

In addition to the above composition, the stain removing device 200 of the present invention may also include an adjustable element. Referring to FIG. 4, an adjustable element 240 is disposed between the base 220 and the driving mechanism 210. When a curvature of the polishing surface changes and the polishing surface has a degree of undulation, the base 220 may extend and retract in response to the undulation of the polishing surface such that the polishing head may always stay adhered to the polishing surface for the polishing operation.

In addition, the stain removing device 200 may also have a rotation speed control module (not shown). The user may control the rotation speed of the polishing head as desired by using the rotation speed control module to control the rotation speed of the driving mechanism.

Furthermore, the stain removing device 200 may also have a splash preventing element 250. FIG. 5A illustrates a top view of the splash preventing element disposed around the polishing head. FIG. 5B is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along the line section II-II′ in FIG. 5A. Referring to both FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B, the polishing head is fixed on the base 220 and the splash preventing element 250 is disposed around the polishing head. A material for the splash preventing element 250 may include sponge, fiber, fabric, or a material capable of absorption. The splash preventing element 250 absorbs the polishing agent or coolant spun off due to the centrifugal force and thus prevents splashing of the liquid.

In addition, the stain removing device 206 of the present invention may also have a polishing agent or coolant supply device (not shown) to simultaneously or respectively supply the polishing agent or coolant to the polishing head or to bring the polishing agent or coolant to the concave of the polishing body by a design of a channel. The supply method of the polishing agent or coolant supply device includes, for example, manual supply or automatic supply. A channel may also be disposed between the polishing agent or coolant supply device and the polishing head to evenly distribute the polishing agent or coolant to the polishing head.

In addition, the stain removing device 200 may also further be connected to an effort saving device (not shown). The main purpose is to lower vertical resistance and influence of gravity. The effort saving device may be a spring, hydraulic, or pneumatic balance device.

The stain removing device 200 in FIG. 4 includes a single driving mechanism 210 and a polishing head. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. The stain removing device of the present invention may also include a plurality of driving mechanisms in connection with a plurality of polishing heads.

3. Stain Removing Device with Multiple Polishing Heads

FIG. 6A illustrates a top view of a stain removing device with multiple polishing heads according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6B illustrates a side view of the stain removing device with multiple polishing heads in FIG. 6A. Referring to both FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B, the stain removing device with multiple polishing heads 300 of the present embodiment combines four driving mechanisms 210 as a whole through a common connecting portion 310 and a common connecting portion 320. Four bases 220 are respectively disposed on the four driving mechanisms 210 and four polishing heads are respectively disposed on the four bases 220. A handle portion 230 is disposed on the stain removing device with multiple heads 300 to allow the user to hold the stain removing device with multiple heads 300 and perform the polishing operation. In the present embodiment, the handle portion 230 is disposed on the common connecting portion 310, for example.

Furthermore, the stain removing device with multiple heads 300 of the present embodiment may also have an adjustable element 240, a rotation speed control module, a splash preventing element 250, or a polishing agent or coolant supply device disposed thereon as described in the above embodiment. In particular, the stain removing device with multiple heads 300 of the present embodiment is heavier and thus is preferably connected to the abovementioned effort saving device to lessen burden on the operator.

It should be noted that the stain removing device with multiple heads 300 of the present embodiment is formed by combining 4 single stain removing devices 200. Therefore, the polishing area is increased and so is the stain removing speed as well as the polishing stability.

In summary, a central portion of the polishing body of the present invention which easily causes horizontal operational resistance has been removed by forming the concave. Therefore, a contact area between the polishing surface of the polishing body and the glass is smaller. In addition, the more effective polishing surface is used for the polishing operation and thus the polishing operation is less effort-consuming.

Furthermore, the polishing head of the present invention uses fiber or fabric material and the center portion which easily causes loss of the polishing agent is removed by forming the concave. Therefore, not only can the concave be used to hold the polishing agent during the polishing process but also the fiber at protruding portions outside the concave can be used to wrap around the polishing particles in the polishing agent. As such, the formation of the concave achieves slow release of the polishing agent and thereby increases the polishing effect.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the structure of the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. In view of the foregoing, it is intended that the present invention cover modifications and variations of this invention provided they fall within the scope of the following claims and their equivalents. 

1. A polishing body, suitable for removing stains, comprising a concave.
 2. The polishing body according to claim 1, wherein a radius of the concave is r, and when a radius of the polishing body is R, r= 1/10R˜⅘R.
 3. The polishing body according to claim 1, wherein a radius of the concave is r, and when a radius of the polishing body is R, r=⅕R˜⅘R.
 4. The polishing body according to claim 1, wherein a depth of the concave is h, and when a height of the polishing body is H, h= 1/10H˜ 9/10H.
 5. The polishing body according to claim 1, wherein a material of the polishing body comprises fiber or fabric.
 6. The polishing body according to claim 5, wherein the fiber comprises animal fiber, synthetic fiber, plant fiber, or a combination thereof.
 7. The polishing body according to claim 5, wherein a diameter of the fiber is 0.01 mm˜0.5 mm.
 8. The polishing body according to claim 5, wherein a diameter of the fiber is 0.01 mm˜0.05 mm.
 9. The polishing body according to claim 5, wherein a length of the fiber is 5 mm˜250 mm.
 10. The polishing body according to claim 5, wherein a length of the fiber is 15 mm˜25 mm.
 11. A stain removing device, comprising: a driving mechanism; a base, connected to the driving mechanism, wherein the base rotates as driven by the driving mechanism; and a polishing head, connected to the base, wherein the polishing head at least comprises a polishing body and the polishing body has a concave.
 12. The stain removing device according to claim 11, wherein an adjustable element is further disposed between the driving mechanism and the base to allow the polishing head to extend and retract in response to curved surface changes of the polishing surface.
 13. The stain removing device according to claim 11, wherein a speed control module is further disposed for controlling a rotation speed of the polishing head.
 14. The stain removing device according to claim 11, wherein a splash preventing element is further disposed around the polishing head to prevent liquid from splashing during polishing.
 15. The stain removing device according to claim 11, wherein a handle portion is further disposed on the stain removing device.
 16. The stain removing device according to claim 11, wherein a polishing agent or coolant supply device is further disposed for respectively or simultaneously supplying polishing agent or coolant to the polishing head.
 17. The stain removing device according to claim 11, further comprising a pneumatic, spring, or hydraulic effort saving device.
 18. The stain removing device according to claim 11, wherein a radius of the concave is r, and when a radius of the polishing body is R, r= 1/10R˜⅘R.
 19. The stain removing device according to claim 11, wherein a radius of the concave is r, and when a radius of the polishing body is R, r=⅕R˜⅘R.
 20. The stain removing device according to claim 11, wherein a depth of the concave is h, and when a height of the polishing body is H, h= 1/10H˜ 9/10H.
 21. The stain removing device according to claim 11, wherein a material of the polishing body comprises fiber or fabric.
 22. The stain removing device according to claim 21, wherein the fiber comprises animal fiber, synthetic fiber, plant fiber, or a combination thereof.
 23. The stain removing device according to claim 21, wherein a diameter of the fiber is 0.01 mm˜0.5 mm.
 24. The stain removing device according to claim 21, wherein a diameter of the fiber is 0.01 mm˜0.05 mm.
 25. The stain removing device according to claim 21, wherein a length of the fiber is 5 mm˜250 mm.
 26. The stain removing device according to claim 21, wherein a length of the fiber is 15 mm˜25 mm.
 27. A stain removing device, comprising: at least two or more driving mechanisms; at least two or more bases, respectively connected to the driving mechanisms and respectively rotating as driven by the driving mechanisms; a plurality of polishing heads, respectively connected to the bases; and a common connecting portion, combining the driving mechanisms as a whole, wherein the polishing heads respectively comprise a body having a concave.
 28. The stain removing device according to claim 27, wherein an adjustable element is further disposed between the driving mechanism and the base to allow the polishing head to extend and retract in response to curved surface changes of the polishing surface.
 29. The stain removing device according to claim 27, wherein a speed control module is further disposed for controlling a rotation speed of the polishing head.
 30. The stain removing device according to claim 27, wherein a splash preventing element is further disposed around the polishing head to prevent liquid from splashing during polishing.
 31. The stain removing device according to claim 27, wherein a handle portion is further disposed on the stain removing device.
 32. The stain removing device according to claim 27, wherein a polishing agent or coolant supply device is further disposed for respectively or simultaneously supplying polishing agent or coolant to the polishing head.
 33. The stain removing device according to claim 27, further comprising a pneumatic, spring, or hydraulic effort saving device.
 34. The stain removing device according to claim 27, wherein a radius of the concave is r, and when a radius of the body is R, r= 1/10R˜⅘R.
 35. The stain removing device according to claim 27, wherein a radius of the concave is r, and when a radius of the body is R, r=⅕R˜⅘R.
 36. The stain removing device according to claim 27, wherein a depth of the concave is h, and when a height of the body is H, h= 1/10H˜ 9/10H.
 37. The stain removing device according to claim 27, wherein a material of the body comprises fiber or fabric.
 38. The stain removing device according to claim 37, wherein the fiber comprises animal fiber, synthetic fiber, plant fiber, or a combination thereof.
 39. The stain removing device according to claim 37, wherein a diameter of the fiber is 0.01 mm˜0.5 mm.
 40. The stain removing device according to claim 37, wherein a diameter of the fiber is 0.01 mm˜0.05 mm.
 41. The stain removing device according to claim 37, wherein a length of the fiber is 5 mm˜250 mm.
 42. The stain removing device according to claim 37, wherein a length of the fiber is 15 mm˜25 mm. 